Black hole Quote by Anna Quindlen
““Someday, sometime, you will be sitting somewhere. A berm overlooking a pond in Vermont. The lip of the Grand Canyon at sunset. A seat on the subway. And something bad will have happened: You will have lost someone you loved, or failed at something at which you badly wanted to succeed. And sitting there, you will fall into the center of yourself. You will look for some core to sustain you. And if you have been perfect all your life and have managed to meet all the expectations of your family, your friends, your community, your society, chances are excellent that there will be a black hole where that core ought to be. I don't want anyone I know to take that terrible chance. And the only way to avoid it is to listen to that small voice inside you that tells you to make mischief, to have fun, to be contrarian, to go another way. George Eliot wrote, 'It is never too late to be what you might have been.' It is never too early, either.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Longest Day, New York Times Magazine, 2005
When loss or failure strikes, people often search for an inner core of meaning, but perfection can leave a void; embracing playfulness and contrarian choices can fill that gap.
In simple terms: Loss creates a void; fun and mischief can fill it.
Key Takeaway
Seek joy and contrarian paths after setbacks.
Themes
loss
identity
resilience
playfulness
contrarianism
Mood
reflective
hopeful
melancholic
Type
philosophical
inspirational
literary
When to use this quote
- grief
- personal failure
- career disappointment
- relationship breakup
Key Concepts
Existential void
psychological resilience
creative rebellion
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you cultivate inner playfulness before a crisis?
- What contrarian choices could you make to rediscover purpose?
A Different Perspective
If you never allowed yourself to be imperfect, the void may feel insurmountable.
